High-pressure relief valve



Dec. 27, 1932. w, BROWNE 1,892,565

HIGH PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Filed Oct. 12, 1951' iy/e mlfolf flg gag,

Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LYLE W. IBBOWNE, F MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA, ASSIGNOB TO THE FISHER GOVERNOR COMPANY, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA HIGH-PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Application filed October 12, 1931.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in a single seated hi pressure relief valve and has for its o Ject to provide a device of this character which comprises a minimum number of parts, thus being extremely simple in construction and operation, as well as accurate and dependab e in its performance.

Heretofore, relief valves of this nature have employed numerous levers, pivotal connections and springs, all of which reduced the sensitiveness of operation and durability of the apparatus. It is an object of m invention to overcome the disadvantages incident to these structures and to this end I have provided a single seated balanced valve provided with an inner auxiliary or relief valve, the latter being directly controlled by the action of a main diaphragm and single valve 2 spring, eliminating the necessity of a, plurality of springs and other connecting elements.

A further object of my invention resides in the complete assembly which includes an auxiliary inner valve located in the main valve, said inner valve being directly controlled by the action of a diaphra m which in turn is regulated and actuated by a suitable pilot valve assembly. Furthermore, I

have provided a relief valve in conmiunication with the line leading to the pressure chamber of the main diaphra to protect said diaphragm and its casing rom excessive pressure.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout both views,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing the entire assembly with the valve body per se and the main valve diaphragm broken away and shown in section to illustrate the working parts, and v Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the valve, balancing piston and inner auxiliary valve.

Serial No. 568,469.

In the drawing, 1 represents a valve body having the conventional flanged inlet and outlet openings 2 and 3 respectively, the intermediate portion of the bodycarrying a horizontally disposed valve seat 4. 5 represents a valve member which comprises a slngle disc 6 beveled as at 7 around its upper edge to correspond with and closely engage the adjacent portion of the seat 4, the central portion of the lower extremity of said disc terminating in an annular extension 8 which forms the walls of a cylindrical chamber 9. This chamber 9 is closed at its underside by a threaded plug lOwhich is provided centrally with a depending tube or sleeve like member 11, the latter being adapted to slidably embrace a pin 12 rigidly supported in the bottom'plate 13 which closes the underside of the valve body 1. As will be hereinafter more fully set forth, the pin 12 and sleeve ll'co-operate to guide and centralize the valve disc 6 with respect to the seat 4, when said valve is opening or closing.

Above and spaced apart from the valve disc 6, but joined thereto by a hollow sleeve 14 7 is a balancing disc or piston 15 which is adapted to fit and operatively engage a cylindrical chamber or pressure cylinder 16 in the upper portion of the valve body 1, the upper portion of said cylinder being closed by the flanged top plate 17. As will be seen from Fig. 2, the balancing disc or piston 15 is vertically apertured or drilled as at 18 for the purpose hereinafter set forth. 1

The cntral opening or passageway of the sleeve 14 extends through the balancing piston 15 and the valve disc 6, terminating at its lower extremity in a slightly enlarged area 19 which opens into the chamber 9. The lower edge of the enlarged area 19 is beveled and forms a seat for the auxiliary valve head 20, the latter being beveled at its upper end to tightly engage said seat, and carried at the lower end of a partially hollow stem 21, 95 which extends upwardly through a suitable stufling box 22 in the top of the valve body 1 and is operatively connected to the head of a diaphragm 23. It will be noted that although the valve stem 21 extends into the main valve 100 flvention and may be any i structure, it is not directly connected to the valve head as is usually the case.

The diaphragm 23 is located in a conventional dia hragm casing 24 which is carried by a suita 1e yoke 25 supported by the valve body 1. 26 represents a spring adjusting member which is externally threaded to engage complementary threads in a web or cross-piece 27 on the yoke 25, the upper extremity of said adjusting member being flanged as at 28 to support the lower end. of a coil spring 29. This adjusting member 26 is drilled centrally to slidably receive the valve stem 21 and when the spring 29 is in place, it encircles the valve stem between the flange 28 on the adjusting member and the underside of the diaphragm head 23, whereby under normal conditions, the diaphragm head is forced upwardly which in turn causes the stem 21 and the auxiliary valve head 20 to move upwardly, the latter assuming a closed position with respect to the auxiliary valve seat.

The valve stem 21 is centrally and longitudinally drilled as at 30 to form a conduit for placing the chamber 9 in communication with that portion of the cylinder 16, above the balancing piston 15. The lower extremity of the conduit 30 is closed by a plug 31 whereby when the valve head 20 is seated, communication between chamber 9 and conduit 30 is cut off. When the v'alve head is open however, communication is established by transverse ports 32 and 33 extending through the wall of the conduit 30 in the hollow portion of the stem 21. The ports 32 are located at the lower end of the conduit 30 and open into the enlarged area 19 immediately above the auxiliary valve seat, while the ports 33 are arranged at the opposite end of the conduit 30* and open into the cylinder 16 above the balancing piston 15.

The chamber 9 is in communication with the inlet side 2 of the main valve 1 at all times, through the medium of ports 34 located in the annular wall of said chamber formed by the extension 8. Thus, as hereinafter more fully set forth, communication between the inlet side 2 of the main valve and the upper portion of the cylinder 16 above the balancing piston 15, is established through the medium of chamber 9 and conduit 30, said communication being governed by the operation of the auxiliary valve 20.

The upper or pressure chamber of the diaphragm casing 24 is preferably placed in communication with a pilot valve mechanism of any suitable type for actuating the diapiiragm 23, or the diaphragm 23 may simply arranged so as to be immediately responsive to the pressure in the up-stream side of the main valve 1. As the pilot valve structure per se forms no part of the present inof several well known types, I have illustrated the. same purel in perspective in Fig. 1. To be more speci 0 however, in an example of the type of ilot structure which may be employed wit this relief valve, attention is directed to Patent No. 1,840,228 of Paul A. Elfers.

The purpose of the pilot valve assembly in connection with the present invention is to take a feeble impulse of the pressure to be relieved, that is from the inlet side 2 of the main valve, and apply said impulse through a multiplying means to the diaphragm head 23 for actuating the main valve.

Immediately adjacent the inlet to the pressure chamber in diaphragm casing 24, I preferably provide a small an le relief valve 36 of any suitable character or rotecting the main diaphragm and casing rom excessive pressure.

Having thus described the construction and assembly of my improved single seated high pressure relief valve, its operation is as fol lows 4 The auxiliary valve 20 is normally held closed by the action of the main valve spring 29 on theunderside of diaphragm 23, which seats said auxiliary valve against the beveled face of the enlarged area or auxiliary valve seat, cutting ofi communication between the chamber 9 and cylinder 16. In this position the high pressure fluid to be relieved enters the main valve through the inlet openin 2 and causes an upward pressure on the un erside of the main valve disc 6 which holds said valve in tight engagement against its seat 4.

Upon the increase of the pressure to be relieved beyond the desired amount, the pilot valve mechanism 35 causes the admission of pressure to the chamber above the diaphragm head 23 which results in the downward movement of said diaphragm. This in turn causes the downward movement of the stem 21 and with it the opening of the auxiliary valve head 20, thus permitting the pressure on the inlet side 2 of the main valve, which by the way is always transmitted to the chamber 9 surrounding the auxiliary valve head, to be communicated through ports 32, conduit 30 and ports 33 to the upper face of the balancing piston 15 in the cylinder 16.

Previous to this time the pressure on the inlet side of the main valve has been such as to hold the main valve in closed position, because of the fact that the pressure in the cylinder 16 on top of the balancing piston has been much lower than the inlet pressure at 2, and equal to that of the outlet .3, which might in some instances be atmospheric pressure. Now as the high pressure fluid from the inlet 2 passes through conduit 30 and fills the cylinder above the balancing piston 15, the effect is that the pressure on top of the piston practically balances the pressure on the bottom of the valve discr6. The valve stem 21 continues tomove downwardly until the head 20 of the auxiliary valve engages ace-see of "its seat, permitting the flow of the high pressure fluid throug the main valve port from the inlet or high side 2 to the outlet or discharge side 3. It will be noted that the sleeve 11 and rigid pin 12 centralize and supportthe main valve disc in its vertical movement.

This flow from inlet to outletside of the main valve continues until the inlet ressure has reduced sufliciently to cause the pi ot valve assembly 35 to drop the main valve ia pressure. The main valve spring 29 t on ex,- pands, forcing the diaphragm head upwardly and at the same time again closing the auxiliary valve 20 through the medium of the valve stem 21, cutting off the flow of fluid to the cylinder 16 above the balancing piston. This resuts in the escape through the vertical port 18 of the remainder of the pressure fluid which has accumulated in the cylinder 16 above the piston 15, which unbalances the main valve. side of the main valve disc 6 then forces the valve into a closed position where it remains until the inlet pressure again increases.

It will he noted that this operation is throttling in action and not intermittent, with the valve floating gradually open and closed according,to the movement of the main valve stem which carries the auxiliary valve 20.

Although I have described my invention as primarily adapted for use as a high pressure relief valve, it is obvious that this same assembly may be employed with equal efl'ect for numerous other services. Wherever pilot mechanism applies operating pressure to the main diaphragm, this device will operate. It

might be used with a pilot valve for controlling reduced or low pressure, for controlling a differential pressure vacuum, liquid level, temperature, or any other service where pilot mechanism controls the application of the controlling fluid or operating medium to the main valve diaphragm.

It is to be understood that numerous changes may be made in the details of structure without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, while I have shown and described the plug 10 and sleeve 11 as separate elements, it is obvious that they may be formed integral if so desired. Likewise the valve stem 21, valve head20 and the plug "31 for closing the conduit 30, whijch are shown and described as three/separate members, may *be "constructed in one piece anysuitable combination, to simplify "Fur thermore tthe auxiliary-lining of the" cylinder 1 ,99; sliowninthe drawing, may be eliminated and the cylinder machined'as apart of the body casting.

It might also be added that in some instances, for example when this apparatus is itself, at a pressure of sa hragm The high pressure on the under- 'which said auxiliary fvalve 'ope'rat v chamber being 1n commumcation .wIth the used with an outside operating medium which has a maximum ressure of say twenty-five pounds, the ang e relief valve 36- is unnecessar and may be eliminated. This relief valve is preferably employed only on those installations where the control fluid five hundred pounds, v is stepped down an applied to the main diaphragm, in which case there is always the possibility of the full five hundred pounds pressure being applied to the dia-. phragm with resultant damage.

structure may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is .in said passageway, the upper'end of said valve stem being operatively connected to a pressure responsive element said valve stem having a longitudinally extending conduittherein for placing the area adjacent the underside of the-valve disc in communication with said cylinder above said balancing piston, whereby upon the operation of said pres- From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and operation of my'improved sure responsive element, the auxiliary valve I is first opened to 'admitpressure fluid to the cylinder to balance the valve disc, after which the continued movement of said pressure 'responsive element opens the main valve.

2. A pressure relief valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve discis providedwith an abutment adapted to be engaged by a portion of said stem upon the movement of the latter to open the main valve.

3. A pressure relief valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve disc is provided with an extension which forms av chamber opening into said passageway and within which. said auxiliary valve operates, said chamber being in communication with the inlet side of the main valve.

4. A pressure relie f valve asclaimedin la m wherein sa d-ra d sa i r aii le -an s wwherarms-: a ma opening into said passagewayj wi inlet side of the main valve, the loweren'd' of said chamber being closed by a plug which forms an abutment for the lower extremity of said valve stem whereby said main valve outlet openings, a main valve disc for regu-.

lating the flow of fluid throu b said openings, a cylinder in said valve ody, a pressure balancin piston o eratlvely connected to said valve disc and a apted to reci rocate within said cylinder, a passageway eadin from the inlet side of the main valve to sai cylinder above said piston, a valve stem adapted to reciprocate in said passa eway and carrying an auxiliary valve for c oslng the lower end of said passageway, the upper end of said valve stem bein connected to a pressure responsive element or opening said auxiliary valve, a conduit in said valve stem for conducting fluid from the inlet side of said valve disc to said cylinder above the piston when said auxiliary valve is opened, se arate means for closing said auxiliary va ve to shut ofl said conduit, and a pilot valve assembly for controlling the operation of said pressure responsive element.

7. A pressure relief valve comprising a valve body havin inlet and outlet openings, a main va ve disc for regulating the flow of fluid through said openings, a cylinder in said valve body, a pressure balancing piston carried by said valve disc and adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder, a passageway extending through said valve disc and piston, a valve stem slidably mounted in said passageway and loosely connected to said main valve disc, an auxiliary valve carried at one end to said valve stem and adapted to close said passageway, the other end of said stem being operatively secured to a pressure responsive element, a conduit extending through a portion of said valve stem and opening at one end within said passageway above said auxiliary valve, and at the other end in said cylinder above said balancing piston, whereby when said auxiliary valve is opened by the opera- 7 tion of said pressure responsive element, the

pressure on the underside of said disc is transmitted through said passageway and conduit to said cylinder to balance said piston, the continued movement of said pressure responsive element causing saidmain valve to open.

8. A pressure relief valve comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet openings, a main valve disc for regulating the flow of fluid through said openings, a cylinder in said valve body, a pressure balancing piston operatively connected to said valve disc and adapted to reciprocate within said cylinder, a valve stem extending through said cylinder,

piston andvalvedisc and loosely connected to the slatter, whereby said .valve stem is capable of a limited relative longitudinal movement withrespect to said piston andiva'lve disc, one

end of said valve stein being operatively connected to an actuating element which is responsive'to surrounding conditions of pressure, a conduit in said valve stem extending lon 'tudinally thereof betweemthat portion oft e cylinder above said piston and that portion of the valve disc which is exposed to the inlet side of the valve body, whereby said inlet side is placed in communication with said cylinder, and an auxiliary valve carried by said valve stem for controlling the flow of fluid through said conduit, said actuating element, through the medium of said valve stem, being ada ted to first operate said auxiliary valve to alance,the piston and valvegisc and afterwards actuate said main valve isc.

9. A pressure relief valve asclaimedinclaim 8 wherein said balancing piston is provided with a bleed opening for permittin the escape of pressure fluid from said cy der to the outlet opening of the main valve.

10. A pressure relief valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein said actuating element con-' sists of a diaphragm movable in one direction by a controlling pressure to open said auxiliary valve and valve disc, and separate means for closing said auxiliary valve and main valve disc.

11. A 0(pressure relief valve comprising a valve b y having inlet and outlet openings, a main valve disc for regulating the flow of fluid through said openings, a cylinder in said valve body, a pressure balancing piston carried by said valve disc and adapted to reciprocate within said c linder, a. passageway extending through sai valve discand piston and leadmg from the inletside of said main valve to said cylinder above the piston, an elongated valve stem loosely connected at one end to the valve disc, its other end projecting through said valve body, a yoke carried by said valve body and supportin a diaphragm which is responsive to a controdling pressure, said diaphragm being 0 ratively connected to the projecting end 0 said valve stem, an

auxiliary valve carried at the other end of said valve stem for controlling the admission 

